CLSA Letter to Rep. Raul Ruiz in Support of Bill to Repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (H.R. 849) – February 2017

On behalf of California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) – the premier statewide public policy and business leadership organization representing California’s leading life science innovators, including medical device, diagnostic, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, research universities and private, non‐profit institutes, and venture capital firms – thank you for your leadership of H.R. 849, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, legislation to permanently repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

As you know, the IPAB was created in an effort to cap Medicare spending growth, and proposed cuts that automatically take effect unless Congress passes similar reductions. Under the law, Congress can adjust the types of cuts made, but it cannot change the dollar amount.

With more than 3,000 companies employing nearly 300,000 people across the state, California’s life sciences innovators have opposed IPAB from the start. Fortunately, because the spending trigger has not been activated and the board has not yet been formed, IPAB has not yet done any damage. Still, we are deeply concerned that the quality of care for our nation’s seniors, those with disabilities and patients with chronic or rare diseases will suffer if IPAB takes effect.